Thoughts on life from a romantic perspective.

Elusive Echoes on Sweet Saturday Samples

I started to do the p. 99 test for Elusive Echoes, but alas…it turns out that’s a very pivotal part of the story and both clears up things prior to that page and creates further questions. Since I didn’t want to spoil the story for anyone, I decided to post p. 98 instead…

She closed her phone. Would life ever be uncomplicated for them?

The sharp rap at her screen door interrupted her irritation, and Mel blinked in surprise at the man on the other side.

“DC. Hi.” She held the door open so he could enter.

The sheriff looked uncomfortable. “Sorry for the early hour, but I’ve got something you’re going to want to hear, and I’m guessing you’d rather hear this in private.”

Mel pointed to the sofa, and followed him over.

“There is no easy way to say this.” DC opened a small black notebook. “A speeding ticket was issued by State Police to a Mr. Dennis DeVayne on US-189 out of Jackson last Saturday afternoon.”

Mel’s heart dropped to somewhere in the vicinity of her stomach, where it continued to beat rapidly. “So he is in the area.”

“He was around last Saturday at least.” DC closed his notebook and tapped it with his fingers. “He also ran a red light in Jackson, got caught on a camera.” He met her stare. “Back in July.”

Mel squeezed her eyes for a second, trying to push back the uneasiness. “He wants something. He’s been hanging around.”

DC rubbed his jaw. “Well, you know him and I don’t. I can’t really say anything other than he appears to be a lousy driver.”

“I’ve been getting letters from him since May but they’ve been from different cities, out of state.”

DC spread his hands. “So he’s on the move a lot and keeps coming back here, or he mails them to an accomplice to mail to you. Nick DeVayne maybe? I haven’t found anything in the system on him at all. Maybe he’s being careful.” DC gave her a pointed look. “Or something might have happened to him. Do you want me to look at the letters? If there’s anything remotely threatening, we can at least get it into the system and start looking at Dennis.”

Mel drew a long breath. “I . . . think I should bring them to you later. I think—maybe I need a lawyer.”

As she finished speaking, he was already shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear what you just said. Were you looking for me to recommend an attorney, Mel?”

Mel flashed a grin. “If you weren’t married already, I’d so go after you.”

With a quick laugh, DC stood. “I’m guessing your boyfriend would have something to say about that.”

With her strict no-dating-within-the-department rule, Firefighter Lina Standish has a nickname in the Salem Hills Fire Department: Lina “Standoffish”. But Firefighter Kevin Daly has had his eye on Standoffish ever since a locker room incident nearly a year earlier, and now he plans to break all her rules. With the help of his niece and a hot-air balloon, he gets Lina’s attention and she agrees to “hang out” with Kevin as friends off duty, to take it slow and see where things go between them. Then Lina’s life is turned upside down by a surprise miracle who doesn’t even have a name. Kevin’s ready to step up, but is Lina?